The Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Do Dietary Diversity Indices Reflect the Nutritional Status of School Aged Children?


Affiliations
1 Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA), M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Dietary Diversity, with foods from all food groups is necessary to meet the requirements for essential nutrients which lead to good health. This study examines whether different dietary diversity indices have relationship with the nutritional status of school children aged 6 to 12 years, in two different regions of India: Wardha district, Maharashtra and Koraput district, Odisha. Dietary diversity was calculated using three methods: Individual food scores calculated using 24 hour diet recall (FS24hr) data; household dietary diversity using Berry's index (DDI) and food scores calculated using food frequency data (FSFFQ). Anthropometric indices were used to assess the nutritional status of school aged children. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and the Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) were calculated as indicators of nutrient adequacy. The relationship between NAR, MAR and three different diversity indices, dietary diversity and anthropometric indices were analyzed. Overall, 38% of 6 to 12 year school aged children were found to be undernourished. The NAR was <70% for all nutrients except protein, energy, thiamine and niacin and MAR was found to be <70% of requirement with mean of 60.5% in both locations. The dietary diversity was found to be relatively better in Wardha when compared with Koraput. The mean diversity indices in both the locations were FS24hr 7.56, DDI 89 and FSFFQ 62.9. Overall most of the nutrient adequacy and mean adequacy were correlated with all three dietary diversity indices when both locations were studied together. However all three dietary diversity indices failed to show any relationship with nutritional status of school children aged 6-12 years from both locations taken together.

Keywords

Dietary Diversity, Food Scores, Anthropometric Parameters, Nutritional Status.
User
Notifications

  • Arimond, M. and Ruel, M.T. Dietary diversity is associated with child nutritional status: evidence from 11 demographic and health survey. J. Nutr., 2004, 134, 2579-2585. http:// jn.nutrition.org/content/134/10/2579.full.pdf

  • Hatloy, A., Torheim, L. and Oshaug, A. Food variety-a good indicator of nutritional adequacy of the diet? A case study from an urban area in Mali, West Africa. Eur. J. Clini. Nutr., 1998, 52, 891-898. http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600662

  • Torheim, L.E., Ouattara, F., Diarra, M.M., Thiam, F.D., Barikmo, I., Hatloy, A. and Oshaug, A. Nutrient adequacy and dietary diversity in rural Mali: association and determinants. Eur. J. Clini. Nutr., 2004, 8, 594–604. http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n10/full/ 1601686a.html

  • Rah, J.H., Akhter, N., Samba, R.D., de Pee, S., Bloem, M.W., Campbell, A.A., Moench-Pfanner, R., Sun, K., Badham, J. and Kraemer, K. Low dietary diversity is a predictor of child stunting in rural Bangladesh. Eur. J. Clini. Nutr., 2010, 64, 1393-1398. http://www.sightandlife.org/fileadmin/data/Publications/EJCN.64.2010.Low_dietary_diversity_is_a_predictor_of_child_stunting_in_rural_Bangladesh.pdf

  • Foote, J.A., Suzanne P. Murphy, Lynne R. Wilkens, Peter Basiotis, P. and Andrea Carlson. Dietary diversity increases the probability of nutrient adequacy among adults. J. Nutr., 2004, 1779-1785. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/134/7/1779.full

  • Ruel, M.T. Operationalizing dietary diversity: A review of measurement issues and research priorities. J. Nutr., 2003, 3911-3925.http://jn.nutrition.org/content/133/11/3911S.full

  • WHO/FAO. Preparation and use of food based dietary guidelines. Report of a joint FAO/ WHO consultation, WHO Technical Report series. 1996.

  • Hatløy, A., Hallund, J., Diarra, M.M. and Oshaug, A. Food variety, socioeconomic status and nutritional status in urban and rural areas in Koutiala (Mali). Public Health Nutrition, 2000, 3, 57-65. http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=/PHN/PHN3_ 01% 2FS1368980000000628a.pdf&code=47490 ad0359c9b75ad870197ef071dd8

  • Hoddinott, J. and Yohannes, Y. Dietary diversity as a food security indicator. Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance (FANTA), Washington DC. 2002. http://pdf.usaid.gov/ pdf_docs/Pnacq758.pdf

  • FAO. Guidelines for measuring household and individual dietary diversity. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 2013. http://www.fao.org/ fileadmin/user_upload/wa_workshop/docs/FAO-guidelines-dietary-diversity2011.pdf

  • Hooshmand, S. and Udipi, S. A. Dietary diversity and nutritional status of urban primary school children from Iran and India. J. Nutr. Disorders Ther., 2013, 12, 001, doi:10.4172/ 2161-0509.S12-001. http://www.omicsonline.org/dietary-diversity-and-nutritional-statusofurban-primary-school-children-from-iran-and-india-2161-0509.S12-001.pdf

  • Drescher, L.S., Silke Thiele and Gert B.M. Mensink. A new index to measure healthy food diversity better reflects a healthy diet than traditional measures. J. Nutr., 2007,

  • -651.http://jn.nutrition.org/content/137/3/647.full.pdf+html

  • Parappurathu, S., Anjani Kumar, Bantilan, M.C.S. and Joshi, P.K. Food consumption patterns and dietary diversity in Eastern India: evidence from village level studies (VLS). Fd. Sec., 2015; doi:10.1007/s12571-015-0493-2. http://link.springer.com/article/ 10.1007/s12571-015-0493-2

  • Akramov, K. and Malek, M. Agricultural biodiversity, dietary diversity and nutritional outcomes: empirical evidence from Tajikistan. Presented at Regional Research Conference on Agricultural transformation and food security in central Asia, in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. April 8th to 9th 2014. https://www.resakss-asia.org/sites/default/files/Kamiljon% 20Akramov 03.pdf

  • Nti, C.A. Dietary diversity is associated with nutrient intakes and nutritional status of children in Ghana. Asian J. Med. Sci., 2011, 2, 105-109. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/ AJMS/article/view/4179/4450

  • Sealey-Potts, C. and Potts, A.C. An assessment of dietary diversity and nutritional status of preschool children. Austin J. Nutr. Fd. Sci., 2014, 2, 1040. http://austinpublishing group.com/nutrition-food-sciences/download.php?file=fulltext/ajnfs-v2-id1040.pdf.

  • National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) (2014): Key Indicators of Situation of Agricultural Households in India, NSS 70th Round, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, New Delhi, GoI. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx? relid=113796

  • National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau. Diet and nutritional status of rural population, prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among adults and infant and young child feeding practices- report of third repeat survey. NNMB technical report 26, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 2012.

  • Das, P.K., Bhavani, R.V. and Swaminathan, M.S. A farming system model to leverage agriculture for nutritional outcomes. Agricultural Research, 2014, 3, 193-203. http:// link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40003-014-0119-5?no-access=true

  • Indian Council of Medical Research. Nutritive value of Indian Foods, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India, 2012.

  • Madden, J.P., Goodman, S.J. and Guthrie, H.A. Validity of the 24-hr recall: Analysis of data obtained from elderly subjects. J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 1976, 68, 143-147.

  • FAO. Food insecurity- when people live with hunger and fear starvation. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 2000. http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/ y1500e/y1500e00.htm

  • Tucker, K. and Mayer, J. Eat a variety of healthful foods: old advice with new support. Nutr. Rev, 2001, 59, 156-158. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11396697

  • Ogle, B.M., Hung, P.H. and Tuyet, H.T. Significance of wild vegetables in micronutrient intakes of women in Vietnam: An analysis of food variety. Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr., 2001, 10, 21–30. http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/10/1/21.pdf

  • Ekesa, B.N., Blomme, G. and Garming, H. Dietary diversity and nutritional status of preschool children from musa-dependent households in Gitega (Burundi) and Butembo (Democratic Republic of Congo). African J. Fd. Agri. Nutr. Develop., 2011, 11, 4896-4911. http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?nd11039

  • Onyango, A., Koski, K.G. and Tucker, K.L. Food diversity versus breastfeeding choice in determining anthropometric status in rural Kenyan toddlers. Int. J. Epidemiol., 1998, 27, 484-489. http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/27/3/484.long

  • Bukania, Z.N., Moses Mwangi, Robert, M. Karanjia, Richard Mutisya, Yeri Kombe, Lydia U Kaduka and Tmothy Johns. Food Insecurity and not dietary diversity is a predictor of nutritional status in children within semiarid agro-ecological zones in eastern Kenya. J. Nutr. Metabol., 2014, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/907153. http:// www.hindawi.com/journals/jnme/2014/907153/

  • Caswell, J.A. and Yaktine, A.L. (eds). Individual, Household, and Environmental Factors Affecting Food Choices and Access, In: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Examining the Evidence to Define Benefit Adequacy. Committee on Examination of the Adequacy of Food Resources and SNAP Allotments; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee on National Statistics; Institute of Medicine; National Research Council; Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US), 2013, chapter 4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ books/NBK206912/

  • Akerele, D. and Odeniyi, K.A. Demand for diverse diets: evidence from Nigeria. Presented at 89th Annual Conference of the agricultural Economic Society, University of Warwick, UK, April 13th to 15th 2015.http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/204210/2/ Dare_Akerele_Dietary_diversity_index__AES2015_final_submission.pdf

  • Basiotis, P.P., Welsh, S.O., Cronin, F.J., Kelsay, J.L. and Mertz, W. Number of days of food intake records required to estimate individual and group nutrient intakes with defined confidence. J. Nutr., 1987, 117, 1638-1641.http://jn.nutrition.org/content/117/9/ 1638.extract

  • Chun, O.K. and Davis, C.G. Variation in nutrient intakes and required number of days for assessing usual nutrient intake among different populations. J. Nutr. Disorders Ther., 2012, 2, 118. http://www.omicsonline.org/variation-in-nutrient-intakes-and-required-numberofdays-for-assessing-usual-nutrient-intake-among-different-populations-21610509.1000118.pdf

  • Palaniappan, U., Cue, R.I., Payette, H. and Gray-Donald, K. Implications of day-to-day variability on measurements of usual food and nutrient intakes. J. Nutr., 2003, 133, 232– 235. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/133/1/232.full.pdf+html


Abstract Views: 373

PDF Views: 6




  • Do Dietary Diversity Indices Reflect the Nutritional Status of School Aged Children?

Abstract Views: 373  |  PDF Views: 6

Authors

D. J. Nithya
Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA), M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
R. V. Bhavani
Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA), M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


Dietary Diversity, with foods from all food groups is necessary to meet the requirements for essential nutrients which lead to good health. This study examines whether different dietary diversity indices have relationship with the nutritional status of school children aged 6 to 12 years, in two different regions of India: Wardha district, Maharashtra and Koraput district, Odisha. Dietary diversity was calculated using three methods: Individual food scores calculated using 24 hour diet recall (FS24hr) data; household dietary diversity using Berry's index (DDI) and food scores calculated using food frequency data (FSFFQ). Anthropometric indices were used to assess the nutritional status of school aged children. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and the Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) were calculated as indicators of nutrient adequacy. The relationship between NAR, MAR and three different diversity indices, dietary diversity and anthropometric indices were analyzed. Overall, 38% of 6 to 12 year school aged children were found to be undernourished. The NAR was <70% for all nutrients except protein, energy, thiamine and niacin and MAR was found to be <70% of requirement with mean of 60.5% in both locations. The dietary diversity was found to be relatively better in Wardha when compared with Koraput. The mean diversity indices in both the locations were FS24hr 7.56, DDI 89 and FSFFQ 62.9. Overall most of the nutrient adequacy and mean adequacy were correlated with all three dietary diversity indices when both locations were studied together. However all three dietary diversity indices failed to show any relationship with nutritional status of school children aged 6-12 years from both locations taken together.

Keywords


Dietary Diversity, Food Scores, Anthropometric Parameters, Nutritional Status.

References